The Guildhall

The Guildhall, originally a guildhall and now a magistrates court, dates from the 15th century with significant additions made in 1861 by Thomas Barry. It is constructed from quaternary and quarry flint, Lincolnshire limestone, Bath stone, and brick dressings, topped with low-pitch lead-covered roofs. The building is situated on an island site.

The south facade features two and three storeys across six bays, with the right-hand two bays recessed and dropped. The 19th-century additions span four and a half bays, highlighted by a central entrance with a two-centre arch supported by attached columns in a buttressed tower. The ground floor has fortified windows, while the first floor showcases traceried triangular arch windows. A re-used 16th-century doorway is located at the extreme left side. The medieval wall includes two-and three-light windows with traceried heads, and a crenellated parapet is topped with a 19th-century turret at the east end.

Inside, the first floor east room features a fine moulded timber ceiling with pendants, decorated linenfold panelling, and carved bench-ends. There are remnants of a medieval staircase arrangement immediately west of this panelled room. Beneath the east end of the building is a three-bay twin-aisled brick-built undercroft, and the western half contains three large barrel-vaulted side chambers. The Guildhall was formerly scheduled as an ancient monument.